In as many times as we have been on the internet or in a discussion or a chat group, we almost always run into someone who feels offended that we use the word “God” when we talk about the One and Only God (Allah in Arabic).
It is surprising to notice that most of these Muslim brothers and/or sisters do not know that the word “Allah” is the Arabic word for the word “God”. Many of them believe that “Allah” is the name of the Muslim God. They do not realize that the word “Allah” does not belong exclusively to the Muslims and that it has always been used before (and after) Islam by the Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians when they speak about God.
Talking to English speaking people about God using the word “Allah” is very much the same like speaking to Arabic speaking people about “Allah” using the word God. It makes all the sense to show respect to the people and their language by speaking to them in the language they use.
Insisting on the use of the word “Allah” which is the Arabic word for God immediately creates the illusion that “Allah” is a whole different deity than God of the whole world. It creates a god that belongs ONLY to the Muslims, and takes the universality of Islam out of it.
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[This message has been edited by amy (edited June 07, 2001).]
I've always found the situation to be reversed. All of my Christian friends have difficulty in accepting Allah as meaning God, and not merely being the name of the god which Muslims worship.
For example, my best friend at school, who was an Orthodox Christian, only realised that Muslims and Christians worship the same god when I posed to him the question:
"What word do Arab Christians say when they refer to God?"
Another issue is that of Khuda Hafiz and Allah Hafiz. Khuda Hafiz, which is taken from Persian, is opposed by some of the people I know who say: "Khuda to koi bhi ho sakta hai, Hamara to aik hi Khuda hai jo Allah hai. Khuda Hafiz mat kaha karo...Allah Hafiz kaha karo!"
I think it contains the following error: "Type Mismatch" (Allah in Arabic, Hafiz in Persian)
[quote]
Originally posted by Beatle_ki_wapsi:
**Another issue is that of Khuda Hafiz and Allah Hafiz. Khuda Hafiz, which is taken from Persian, is opposed by some of the people I know who say: "Khuda to koi bhi ho sakta hai, Hamara to aik hi Khuda hai jo Allah hai. Khuda Hafiz mat kaha karo...Allah Hafiz kaha karo!"
I think it contains the following error: "Type Mismatch" (Allah in Arabic, Hafiz in Persian)
**
[/quote]
IMO:
For the most part those who say Allah Hafiz are wahabis. I refuse to say Allah Hafiz since this is not standard departing greeting and I don't see anything wrong with is part of our culture. From a proper religious point of view Ma'as salaama? would be correct? But the thought on this is that this is arabic and you are not arabic. ?
The creator can be called by any name that reminds, or makes, you of Him only: Allah, Rab, Khuda, God, Bhagwaan.
Personally, whenever possible I try to avoid using anything other than 'Allah'. I have heard on more than one occasion that its not good to say Khuda, not because its not an arabic word, but because it is of persian origin; where it originally, before the coming of Islam had to do with a lot of 'gods' with 'dubious characteristics' shall we say. Likewise with Rab, Baghwan, though they also mean God, they are also associated with other kufr religions.
In my opinion, its better to stick with Allah which is pure.
[quote]
Originally posted by Girl from Quraysh:
**>>>Rab, Khuda, God, Bhagwaan<<<
Personally, whenever possible I try to avoid using anything other than 'Allah'. I have heard on more than one occasion that its not good to say Khuda, not because its not an arabic word, but because it is of persian origin; where it originally, before the coming of Islam had to do with a lot of 'gods' with 'dubious characteristics' shall we say. Likewise with Rab, Baghwan, though they also mean God, they are also associated with other kufr religions.
In my opinion, its better to stick with Allah which is pure. **
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God was in existance before Islam. Not only is he God of muslims but he is God of the whole humanity which includes persians and hindus and every one else on earth. I wonder what animals call him ?
I believe your original query was in regards to whether one should use Allah or God. For Muslims its preferrable to use the name Allah. That does not mean the other names are unacceptable, indeed, in some cases it may be better to use names other than Allah when you feel you may not be understood, or to ensure that you convey what it is you want to say accurately.
But if you have a choice, between using the name God and Allah, I would much rather use the latter.
Allah is by far superior and actually ordained rather than God.
**
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I would disagree with this statement. it gives the impression that Allah is a different entity than God which is not true. Allah and God are two names of same entity. There is just one God in Islamic, christian and jewish teachings whatever name you may use to describe it.
I also read somewhere that Allah was the name of one of the many gods of pre-islamic Arabs and Mohammad(like other ppl of his tribe) was worshiper of Allah before the concept of One God occured to him or you can say "Allah" started communicating with him.
Before the advent of Islam, there was a small group of people, who called themselves the followers of “Deen-e-Haneef”, which was basically a monotheistic creed, ascribing to the belief of “one God” and adhering to the monotheistic practices of the Abrahamic tradition (these practices included: Sala’h (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage), Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Kabah*), *Aitikaaf (confinement to the mosque for concentrated worship) etc.). The Prophet (pbuh), it is generally believed, ascribed to this group. However, there is hardly any authentic information available on this topic in the books of history. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that the Qur’an has clearly stated that before the initiation of revelation, the Prophet (pbuh) was not fully aware of the details of faith and belief and neither of the divine laws (Al-Shooraa 42: 52).
In principle, the Prophet (pbuh), even before he received guidance from God, was an adherent of monotheism and of worship of one God only. Nevertheless, as far as the details of God’s guidance (beliefs as well as laws) are concerned, the Qur’an has adequately explained the Prophet’s condition as ‘one searching for the right path’, who was subsequently bestowed the divine guidance to the right path.
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Originally posted by sholay: ...Finally do you know where we get the word Hallellujah from and it's real meaning.
[/quote]
Interesting... No I don't know. Let's what others say.
Also, there is a rawayat from Hazrat Aiysha (RA) about the greatest name of Allah. Long story short, she (RA) said "Rab". It's written in our hands when we put them together and raise them to the heavens during du'a. Rab. It might have been associated with kufr religions but when the use, now, has been purified it can be used without hesitation since Allah (sbwt) Himself recognizes it.
Deus is the Latin and Portugese word used for God.
Dieu in French
Dio in Italian
Dios in Spanish
Dia in Scoth
Duw in Welsh.
Furthermore, moving onto Hallellujah, the letter J never existed in the Jewish scriptures (hebrew). There is no letter J.
Every letter you see in the Bible which starts with J has been transfered from a Y.
e.g. Yael,Yehuda,Yusuf, Yehowa etc.
In Arabic and Hebrew, Ya will always come at the beginning rather than the end, due to it's unique noun and numbers system. It is a vocative and exclamatory particle meaning
'OH!'. It is a common known fact that the Western language ends with an exclamation and the Semite and Arabic language start with an exclamation.
YA=OH(the vocative); and YA=(!)exclamation
Therefore it is not Hallelu- Jah, it is
YA-ALLE-HU.
This is the real meaning of (Hallellujah). 'OH ALLAH'(You are the Only Being Who deserves worship and Praise).
Look at any original Bible and you will find Allahs name as EL,ELI,ALLE,ELAH,ALAH ALLAH. Any unbiased Christian will confirm this.
Only in the English language will you get the Ya at the end rather than the beginning, and the Torah and Bible were not revealed in English!